Royal, Simi Valley football programs win appeal with Southern Section for formation of new leagues

Tired of losing by wide margins every season to Oaks Christian and St. Bonaventure in Marmonte League football, Royal won a Southern Section appeal Thursday for the formation of new leagues for the next four-year cycle beginning in the fall of 2014.

The new sub-divisions are Westlake, Moorpark, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park in one group, and Royal, Oak Park, Simi Valley, Agoura and Calabasas in the other.

Every two years, the top two teams and bottom two will switch, according to Royal coach Kevin Flye.

“I’m not sure what the league is going to be called now, but this is a good thing,” Flye said. “We’ve got two very competitive leagues, and it was long overdue to make this change. We’re really excited about it.”

Meanwhile, St. Bonaventure and Oaks Christian continue to campaign against the decision to be pushed out. The schools are part of a group of private schools appealing the decision with the Southern Section.

“If those two win the appeal, it’s back to the drawing board,” Flye said.

Simi Valley coach Ryan Taggart said his school was working on a similar appeal with the same end result.

“I think the advantage for us is it’s logical based on competitive equity,” Taggart said. “You want to improve and get better, and I think it’s a positive thing to look at the schedule and know you’re going to be competitive in every game you’re in.”